Pro-palestine vandalism hits Twickenham
TWICKENHAM STADIUM has been vandalised with red paint and “Free Gaza” messages in a pro-palestine protest against a military arms exhibition at the rugby venue.
Palestine Action claimed responsibility for the “blood red” graffiti in opposition to the International Armoured Vehicles event led by resources company Defence IQ. Later yesterday, about 300 protesters gathered outside the stadium shouting “RFU is covered in Palestinian blood”, as the three-day corporate event began. The Met police confirmed it was investigating after being called to reports of paint being sprayed outside the stadium at 1.20am.
Israel’s largest weapons company, Elbit Systems, along with representatives of its British subsidiary Elbit Systems UK and the Israeli state owned arms manufacturer, Rafael, are among attendees, Palestine Action said.
Attendees at the conference were later booed amid hostile scenes from a mob of protesters outside the stadium. One visitor, dressed in military regalia with the flag of Sweden stitched onto his clothing, was harangued and chased by a small group as he tried to leave the building. One protester, dressed head to toe in black tactical gear with a face mask and a megaphone harness on his back, clashed with a police officer while trying to accost the official.
Richmond Palestine Solidarity Campaign had also backed protests in recent weeks. Palestine Action said: “Palestine Action has, for over three years, worked to prevent manufacture at these premises and to disrupt Elbit’s appearances and marketing wherever possible – including at high-security weapons fairs such as this. Twickenham has, therefore, been covered in a blood-red reminder of the Palestinian bloodshed.”